The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

Reply 1800

17

Just be there for 08:00-08:15. In that way you're sure.

Reply 1801

I have seen pictures of durham in the web and it seemed that durham is a "dead city", very boring with no social life. What do you guys do for fun? If there were no trains to Newcastle, what do you do?

I'm just curious, that's all.

Reply 1802

Hopping Mad Kangaroo

15

It tends to be noisier when most of the students are here :smile:

Reply 1803

arkbar

12

very boring with no social life.

How exactly can you see that a place has no social life through looking at a picture?

Reply 1804

River85

17

sophie192

I have seen pictures of durham in the web and it seemed that durham is a "dead city", very boring with no social life.

dead city. Love it.

Why, just because it's small, looks pretty and picteresque it must be "dead"? It was described, just three years ago (can't remember by who, some local group or authority), as "beautiful but dull".

True, Durham doesn't have the clubbing and party scene that the party cities have (Newcastle, Manchester, London). It's a small, Norman cathedral city, you can't really expect it to (look at the controversy surrounding that lap dancing club on North Road). But that doesn't make it "dead".

Sport is quite a big thing in Durham, although we aren't all into it and it's certainly not compulsory. There's the college bars, student theatre, a couple of decent clubs (not great though), some lovely pubs, the usual student societies.

Oh, and if there were no trains to Newcastle then many would get the bus :p:

Or, for the rich students, a taxi. You'd be surpised how few students make regular trips to Newcastle (I've never came across many). That shows Durham must be able to offer something.

Reply 1805

generic hybrid

17

sophie192

I have seen pictures of durham in the web and it seemed that durham is a "dead city", very boring with no social life. What do you guys do for fun? If there were no trains to Newcastle, what do you do?

I'm just curious, that's all.

uh what

1) I don't know how you got that from photos and 2) no.

I'm assuming the photos you saw were from the summer, because during term time Durham is usually crawling with people. The university itself has loads of active societies -- particularly the DUS (debates), DUCK (charity), and DICCU (Jesus) -- and a high involvement in sport and theatre. As far as nights out go, there are 14 colleges in Durham and each one has its own bar. And then after that you can go on to Kingsgate, Jimmy Allen's, 24, Walkabout, Studio, Loveshack, one of the two nights the student union has every weekend... Yeah, you can run out of stuff to do and go to Newcastle (although I only know a few people who do), but you can't say Durham has no social life.

I guess there is Klute, which maybe negates some of this because it is the Worst Club In Europe, but aside from that it is decent. If going clubbing every night is a necessity for you, Durham is probably not the right place; however, it is certainly far from "dead".

Reply 1806

River85

17

generic hybrid

I guess there is Klute, which maybe negates some of this because it is the Worst Club In Europe, but aside from that it is decent. If going clubbing every night is a necessity for you, Durham is probably not the right place; however, it is certainly far from "dead".

Worst club in Europe, by default :p:

Also, as the son on an amaeur photographer, when it comes to taking photos it's all about atmosphere. They are quite a biased medium. The photographer probably wanted to express the tranquilty of Durham, so chose to take the photographs at a time when few people were around. This, for example: -

OK, not the greatest example, but I don't have time to search for something better. I'm sure people get my point though. It wouldn't have had quite the same effect if there were crowds (or even just a handful) of people.

Durham's probably one of the most photographed cities outside London (I read that somwhere, just beleive it :p:

) and the vast majority of them are going to be of tranquil scenes by the river bed, the cathedral and Old Fulling Mill, the Bailey etc. But, on the other hand, you don't get many of these

Again, not the best examples I can find.

With 40,000 permanent residents (used to have the largest private housing estate in Europe, goodness knows why) and 18,000 students it makes for a fair number of people in such a small city.

So if you're talking about how "busy" the city looks, I can assure you that you often can't move for fellow pedestrians. With so many locals and students in such a small city, it's quite budy in Market Square and the major streets.

I don't think any university or city, that has thousands of students, is "dead" or boring. It just depends on what you're after.

Edit: -

Whilst searching for those photos (all from the BBC) I came across this one

My daddy took that! April 2004's photograph of the month winner. Nothing to do with Durham, I'd just forgotten about it.

Reply 1807

arkbar

12

That's nothing, someone I know got in the guardian for using photoshop...

Reply 1808

generic hybrid

17

arkbar

That's nothing, someone I know got in the guardian for using photoshop...

Haha, I saw that on B3ta earlier. McCain would've been an endless photoshop goldmine...

Reply 1809

hannah-03

hey my teacher told me there is like a high secerity prision in the middle of durham is this true or is he just trying to scare me?
however my friend says its at the other campus is this true?

Reply 1810

River85

17

hannah-03

hey my teacher told me there is like a high secerity prision in the middle of durham is this true or is he just trying to scare me?
however my friend says its at the other campus is this true?

Durham prison is in the centre of Durham. It's category B though, not A.

Frankland is the maximum security prison where the really nasty people go (Ian Huntley is there). This is well outside Durham.

There's not one in Stockton, as far as I'm aware.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham_prison

Reply 1811

neiljeff123

14

i have a clear view of it from my bedroom

Reply 1812

simple.

9

I was wondering wether someone could tell me a little about St Cuthberts.
Hows tradition? What events and balls do they have?
How is it regarded by other colleges? is it well ranked among them?
What are the chances of me getting a single en-suite room?

I've got lots more questions but can't think of anymore right now.
Thanks. :biggrin:

Reply 1813

sophie192

generic hybrid

uh what

1) I don't know how you got that from photos and 2) no.

I'm assuming the photos you saw were from the summer, because during term time Durham is usually crawling with people. The university itself has loads of active societies -- particularly the DUS (debates), DUCK (charity), and DICCU (Jesus) -- and a high involvement in sport and theatre. As far as nights out go, there are 14 colleges in Durham and each one has its own bar. And then after that you can go on to Kingsgate, Jimmy Allen's, 24, Walkabout, Studio, Loveshack, one of the two nights the student union has every weekend... Yeah, you can run out of stuff to do and go to Newcastle (although I only know a few people who do), but you can't say Durham has no social life.

I guess there is Klute, which maybe negates some of this because it is the Worst Club In Europe, but aside from that it is decent. If going clubbing every night is a necessity for you, Durham is probably not the right place; however, it is certainly far from "dead".

Oh ok. I was just wondering because the pics were really lifeless. Fortunately, the pics didn't change my decision of going to Durham in the future. I know it's the right place for me. And I could care less about the night life because i'm not really into drinking and clubbing. I'm the epitome of an overachiever without a night life lol

Reply 1814

sophie192

River85

Worst club in Europe, by default :p:

Also, as the son on an amaeur photographer, when it comes to taking photos it's all about atmosphere. They are quite a biased medium. The photographer probably wanted to express the tranquilty of Durham, so chose to take the photographs at a time when few people were around. This, for example: -

OK, not the greatest example, but I don't have time to search for something better. I'm sure people get my point though. It wouldn't have had quite the same effect if there were crowds (or even just a handful) of people.

Durham's probably one of the most photographed cities outside London (I read that somwhere, just beleive it :p:

) and the vast majority of them are going to be of tranquil scenes by the river bed, the cathedral and Old Fulling Mill, the Bailey etc. But, on the other hand, you don't get many of these

Again, not the best examples I can find.

With 40,000 permanent residents (used to have the largest private housing estate in Europe, goodness knows why) and 18,000 students it makes for a fair number of people in such a small city.

So if you're talking about how "busy" the city looks, I can assure you that you often can't move for fellow pedestrians. With so many locals and students in such a small city, it's quite budy in Market Square and the major streets.

I don't think any university or city, that has thousands of students, is "dead" or boring. It just depends on what you're after.

Edit: -

Whilst searching for those photos (all from the BBC) I came across this one

My daddy took that! April 2004's photograph of the month winner. Nothing to do with Durham, I'd just forgotten about it.

Yeah, you're probably right. Most of his photos were black and white and spooky. The pics were probably taken for a Halloween contest or something lol.

I'm loving the boat picture. I wish I could take photos like that. It's amazing! :eek:

Reply 1815

QBC123

10

Well most of the above answers my first question but on a more specific level what is the work experience for lawyers like down in Durham? I mean obviously in London there are loads of law firms that you can try and get some work experience in, but is this the same for Durham? Or is legal work experience hard to come about? Also-as a student- if you want to make some extra cash being a waiter or whatever are there opportunities to do so in Durham? Thanks Durham-ites :biggrin:

Reply 1816

River85

17

QBC123

Well most of the above answers my first question but on a more specific level what is the work experience for lawyers like down in Durham? I mean obviously in London there are loads of law firms that you can try and get some work experience in, but is this the same for Durham? Or is legal work experience hard to come about? Also-as a student- if you want to make some extra cash being a waiter or whatever are there opportunities to do so in Durham? Thanks Durham-ites :biggrin:

Well Durham's an elite law school, so well targeted in graduate employment.

In terms of work experience there are plenty of high street firms around (as there are in any city). You also have large and quite prestigious regional and national law firms advertising for vacation schemes each summer. Most are these are based in Newcastle (some elsehwere in County Durham like Darlington). They are, of course, fairly competitive but can provide great experience.

Considering it's provincial, yet has long been an elite school and probably better represented, in the bar, than all other universities outside of Oxbridge (certainly more than LSE, whose graduates bugger off into IB) that's quite impressive.

Reply 1817

catherine09

i just love the look of this college and would do anything to go here
id like to study english
i currently study law, media studies, english lit and modern history at a level

im worried my vocational subject of media would stop me from getting a place :frown:

because its seen as soft
is this true?
even if i get A grades in all my a levels

Reply 1818

Hopping Mad Kangaroo

15

catherine09

i just love the look of this college and would do anything to go here
id like to study english
i currently study law, media studies, english lit and modern history at a level

im worried my vocational subject of media would stop me from getting a place :frown:

because its seen as soft
is this true?
even if i get A grades in all my a levels

Details - which college and what sort of school did you go to? I got in with ICT as a 4th A-level if that helps. Though for Nat Sci not English.

If you went to a normal bog comp you have a decent chance though - if you can get AAA in your other subjects. (AS grades would help too)

Reply 1819

Aula

18

Offers are made on the basis of 3 A levels, with 4 As at AS and 3 (or more) As at A level you should be in with as much of a chance as anyone.
Law tends to be seen as a weaker subject too I believe, but with English lit and History you should be fine.
Also, whether or not you get into a particular college will have nothing to do with your A levels.

The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

Quick Reply

Related discussions

How The Student Room is moderated